Frost and Freeze Warning Issued for Southern California

It may not seem that cold if you’re from the East Coast, but to people in Los Angeles, freezing winter weather has arrived.

Forecasters on Monday night issued a frost and freeze warning for Southern California through early Tuesday as temperatures will dip down overnight to the mid to low 30s, especially in local valleys. Winds will make the chill feel even colder, as a wind advisory will be in effect until at least 9 p.m.

Expect “gusty northerly winds this evening across portions of Southwest California,” the National Weather Service reported. A “cold air mass (is expected) to bring frost and freeze conditions to portions of Southwest California.”

Forecasters said a “tight surface pressure gradient” behind a low-pressure trough is responsible for the winter weather.

They said freezing conditions during overnight hours could continue through Wednesday morning.

The NWS recommended that “protective measures to save crops and sensitive vegetation” should be taken in areas most likely to experience temperatures near 32 degrees. “Vulnerable animals and pets should be kept indoors in a house or barn.”

While overnight lows in some parts of the Los Angeles area were expected to be only into the upper 30s and low 40s, temperatures in parts of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys could go down to the 32-degree mark.

Minimum temperatures are expected to fall into the upper teens and mid- 20s in the Antelope Valley tonight and Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Most mountain areas will see lows tonight and Tuesday night in the teens and 20s, with a few locations likely falling into the single digits, the National Weather Service forecast.

Anyone planning to travel into the Antelope Valley or mountains should be prepared for very cold temperatures and unusually cold wind chill readings, the National Weather Service warned.

Icy road conditions will be likely in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

The extremely cold temperatures in the Antelope Valley could result in frozen or bursting pipes in poorly insulated homes and areas where pipes are exposed, the National Weather Service warned.

High daytime temperatures in the Southland are expected to be in the 50s and low 60s through much of the week. However, the cold -- and possibly freezing -- overnight temperatures should see little change as the week continues.

There could even be a chance of rain by Saturday.

While downtown Los Angeles saw a temperature of 54 by 5 p.m., the mercury in the Antelope Valley at that hour was already down to 38 degrees.

--City News Service, photo via Pixabay